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Masters’ Palettes

The Telegraph has a terrific article about the preservation and study of renowned artists' paint palettes: Why preserve Van Gogh's palette? Why preserve an artist's palette? The daubs of raw pigment or the mixes left in position can be an intriguing index to the working method and the mind of the artist. And most, once the status of art had been elevated above the realms of mere craft, would paint themselves palette in hand. Where and how colour is laid can convey emotion, psychology, religious significance. "The whole value of what you are about" wrote John Ruskin in his Elements of Drawing, first published in 1857 "depends on colour. If the colour is wrong, everything is wrong: just as, if you are singing,...

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Is Your Personal Data on Spokeo?

My blogging friend Fabulously Broke alerted me of Spokeo this morning. According to their website, Spokeo is a "people" search engine that aggregates all publicly available data (including but not limited to: phone directories, social networks, marketing surveys, mailing lists, government census, real estate listings, and business websites). While a quick name search will bring up cursory information, paid members can access even more detailed data. I knew that after being active on social networks for years, my information would most likely be listed. What surprised me is that they had the wrong information. More specifically, their information was vastly outdated — they had me listed as still living with my parents, circa 1999! And NO, my parents' house is not worth $1...

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